Iron Pickaxe — Minecraft block

Iron Pickaxe

Iron Pickaxe is the first pickaxe that can mine diamond and redstone ore, crafted from three iron ingots and two sticks.

Block ID minecraft:iron_pickaxe
Mod Vanilla
Game versions
1.21

Description

Iron Pickaxe is the mid-tier mining tool in Minecraft, crafted from three iron ingots and two sticks, and it is the first pickaxe that can mine diamond, emerald, redstone, and gold ore. Iron Pickaxe has 250 durability uses, a mining speed of 6, and deals 4 attack damage, sitting between the Stone Pickaxe and the Diamond Pickaxe in the tool progression. Players smelt raw iron in a furnace to get the iron ingots, making Iron Pickaxe the standard upgrade once early stone tools wear out.

Iron Pickaxe can mine every ore except obsidian, crying obsidian, and ancient debris, which still require a Diamond Pickaxe or better. Iron Pickaxe accepts enchantments like Efficiency, Fortune, Silk Touch, Unbreaking, and Mending, and it can be repaired with iron ingots on an anvil or grindstone. Toolsmith villagers also sell enchanted Iron Pickaxe variants, and the tool appears in some generated chest loot, making it a reliable workhorse for the entire mid-game mining loop.

Java & Bedrock Guide

How to make an Iron Pickaxe in Minecraft

  1. 1

    Smelt the iron

    Smelt three raw iron in a furnace with any fuel to get the three iron ingots you need.

  2. 2

    Open the crafting table

    Right-click a crafting table to open the full 3x3 crafting grid.

  3. 3

    Place the iron ingots

    Put one iron ingot in each of the three cells of the top row of the 3x3 grid.

  4. 4

    Add two sticks

    Place two sticks in the center column below the middle iron ingot to complete the Iron Pickaxe.

Mining tip

An Iron Pickaxe is required to mine diamond, emerald, and redstone ore; a Stone or Wooden Pickaxe destroys those blocks and drops nothing.

How to craft this block

Ingredients: Iron Ingot Iron Ingot x3 Stick Stick x2
Crafting
Iron Ingot Iron Ingot Iron Ingot
Stick
Stick
Iron Pickaxe
1
Iron Pickaxe

Used in crafts

Related blocks

Frequently asked questions

Can an Iron Pickaxe mine diamond?

Yes. An Iron Pickaxe is the lowest tier that can mine diamond ore and drop the diamond; wooden and stone pickaxes destroy the ore without any drop.

Can an Iron Pickaxe mine obsidian?

No. Obsidian, crying obsidian, and ancient debris require a Diamond or Netherite Pickaxe; an Iron Pickaxe cannot harvest them.

How much durability does an Iron Pickaxe have?

An Iron Pickaxe has 250 durability, so it can break up to 250 blocks before it breaks without the Unbreaking enchantment.

How do you repair an Iron Pickaxe?

Combine two Iron Pickaxes or add iron ingots on an anvil or grindstone; the Mending enchantment also repairs it using experience orbs.

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